New Editor at FLYING

[Tom Goodrick]

My December FLYING arrived yesterday with the news that Michael Maya Charles was no longer the Editor-in-Chief at FLYING after two months of operation. The new editor is Robert Goyer, who has written one or two articles a month on various aircraft and hardware topics for several years.

Charles likes to live in Colorado. Goyer likes Texas, not New York.

The Bonnier Group is a tough bunch to satisfy. Evidently Charles didn't see their long-term view either, along with J Mac McClellan. I could not detect any changes in the magazine in the last three issues. No changes in this one either.

[Tom Goodrick]

I wonder just what the Bonner Group wants out of FLYING Magzine. I wonder if they don't represent interests in light sport aviation equipment. Until now FLYING has treated the subject fairly but has shown that LSA is not the best thing for everyone and will not cure all the ills of the aviation buisiness. Many things about it just don't make a lot of sense. I have not seen a cost comparison between getting an LSA license and getting a solo certificate in training for a Private License for about the same effort. Most the LSA equipment is not very cheap unless you buy a Cub, Ercoupe or Luscomb. Even they have gone up in price by qualifying as LSA aircraft. But a Skyhawk, Piper Cherokee or Beech Sundowner may be the better buy with greater potential utility for the student willing to sign on for Private Pilot training. Then there are the number of old people who have taken off on a hot day in their LSA and run into the trees because they had no climb capability.

FLYING had two rather negative articles in the November issue. That may have caused the premature and unexpected end of Michael Maya Charles who at least had plenty of time in a wide assortment of aircraft as well as significant writing credits.

I see Bonner running the magazine into the ground. But it may survive. It has in the past.

I noticed another thing. Richard L Collins name was carried through the September issue as "Editor Emeritus," a position invented for him by McClellan. Collins has not written anything for some time. He may have a significant health problem. But now his name is found nowhere. Meanwhile Robert Goyer's title rose from Senor editor to Exectutive Editor to Editor-in-Chief.

Collins wrote frequent articles in the '50's and '60's, added his "On Top" column in the '70's, served as Editor-in-Chief in the '80's and came back after editing the AOPA Pilot in the '90's to write many articles in the current decade. He kept FLYING at the top in poularity among aviation magazines by maintaining a high level of credibility. Maybe the fight Bonner had with McClellan was over Collins' name on the masthead. Charles did say nice things about Collins, including how Collins got him started in aviation journalism. Collins certainly kept my interest in aviation high, whether I was flying or not.

[Joe]

Wow. There's no explanation on website either. My issue only arrived today and I haven't looked at it yet. Maybe my commercial pilot friend has heard something (email to him pending)

[Joe]

It looks like the people at Cessna are as in the dark as anyone else.

I didn't notice it, but the issue the month after Mac was canned, you won't see any Cessna ads.

[Tom Goodrick]

Now there seems to be a delay in the March issue. Anybody get their's or see it on a stand?

[Allen Peterson]

I received my March issue of Flying a week or so ago. No changes in the staff from the Feburary issue except that they have hired two new senior editors, Stephen Pope and Pia Bergqvist. Pope has an article on the Sikorsky S-76D.

[flaminghotsauce]

Well, MY issue is delayed. I deliver mail to the Macon Fower Airport (K89). Usually, they get theirs first, mine is the next day, then a few days later, K89 gets the giveaway editions. This week, they got both groups of magazines yesterday, yet mine is nowhere to be seen.